Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
One two three four
I don't wanna live no more
Well I've got no more reason to live
And I've got no more love to give
Tonight's the night
I'll paint the town red
I'll put another hole through my head
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Now I feel the weight of the world on my back
I've seen the future
The future looks black
It's what I must do
I have no reservations
Ain't talking bout self preservation
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Gravity
Crushing me
Gravity
Crushing me
Crushing me
Crushing me
Yeah I feel something pulling me down
Forcing me between myself and the ground
Of all the nightmares that ever came true
I think that gravity (gravity) is you
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Gravity
Crushing me
Gravity
Crushing me
Crushing me
Crushing me
I've got a problem
A problem with hate
I can't go on dragging this weight
A cold steel hand that won't let go
Acid-filled thoughts out of control
I built myself a nice little cage
With bars of anger and a lock of rage
I can't help asking who's got the key
When I know damned well it's me
No I ain't hinting for sympathy
I'm used to dealing with apathy
The scars on my wrist may seem like a crime
Just wish me better luck next time
So what if I died a thousand deaths
You think I'm insane but I have no regrets
One more time won't matter no question
Suicide is self-expression.
I don't wanna live no more
Well I've got no more reason to live
And I've got no more love to give
Tonight's the night
I'll paint the town red
I'll put another hole through my head
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Now I feel the weight of the world on my back
I've seen the future
The future looks black
It's what I must do
I have no reservations
Ain't talking bout self preservation
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Gravity
Crushing me
Gravity
Crushing me
Crushing me
Crushing me
Yeah I feel something pulling me down
Forcing me between myself and the ground
Of all the nightmares that ever came true
I think that gravity (gravity) is you
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable
Unjustifiable existence
Unjustifiable existence
Gravity
Crushing me
Gravity
Crushing me
Crushing me
Crushing me
I've got a problem
A problem with hate
I can't go on dragging this weight
A cold steel hand that won't let go
Acid-filled thoughts out of control
I built myself a nice little cage
With bars of anger and a lock of rage
I can't help asking who's got the key
When I know damned well it's me
No I ain't hinting for sympathy
I'm used to dealing with apathy
The scars on my wrist may seem like a crime
Just wish me better luck next time
So what if I died a thousand deaths
You think I'm insane but I have no regrets
One more time won't matter no question
Suicide is self-expression.
Lyrics submitted by jc6md
Gravitational Constant: G = 6.67 x 10^-8 cm^-3 gm^-1 sec^-2 song meanings
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you got to be shitting me. not a single post on this song? for shame fellow type o fans.
Well the song is pretty straight forward. I could picture Peter writing this on the top on a tall building... Looking over the edge and calculating the gravitational constent to find how fast he'd be going when he hits the ground at a splat.
He is talking about the weight of life. And, also incorporating terminal velocity as a little black humour.
JUST SAY YES!
my favorite thing about this song is the chorus at the end (it sounds like one of Enslaved's vikin choruses). It's permanently stuck in my head, and I don't think it's ever coming out.
its songs lik this that r my favs by TON, helplessly depressed and having thoughts of suicide. this is amazing live [peter usually yells kill yourself at one point and says i can see god quite often]
This is actually a sarcastic, playful song. Type O at their best. An epic masterpiece composition.
An angry suicidal tirade about something that is keeping him down, and that thing is, Gravity!
"of all the nightmares that evercame true, Gravity it's you!"
It's really a fun song about how one can be driven to the brink, and then blame it on damned Gravity, for keeping him down, literally keeping him down.
The depth of the song is in the realness of the downward spiral he sings about, as if he is truly suicidal. It makes you examine life and reality...